Author: Susan Yeager Major: Supply Chain Management Country: Mexico Program: Immersion Service-Learning Program

This summer, I spent five weeks studying abroad in Puebla, Mexico in the Immersion Service-Learning program. My goals were to practice understanding and speaking Spanish, earn six hours of credit towards my Spanish minor, and learn more about Mexican culture. Little did I know that this experience would impact my life so greatly.  

I chose this program because it is one of a few University of Arkansas faculty-led programs that travels to a Spanish-speaking country. When I first arrived in Mexico and met my host mom, I was so overwhelmed by the immediate immersion into Spanish. My host mom did not speak English and was very energetic; as soon as she met us, she spoke quickly and non-stop in Spanish. Luckily, I had a house mate that I already knew from the University of Arkansas, and we were able to share looks of surprise and confusion and help each other translate. By the end of the trip, I could easily understand my teacher, my host mom, and the locals (as long as they spoke slowly enough). One of the biggest impactors on my understanding of Spanish was my teacher. We spent four hours every Monday through Thursday morning in Spanish class with our Mexican teacher Lola. Lola only spoke Spanish, which greatly helped me to understand the language. At first, I was annoyed by the idea that we could not ask questions in English if we did not understand something, but in the end, I am very thankful for the forced immersion into the language day after day. The teachers of the Spanish Immersion program split students into two different groups, elementary and intermediate. I was in the intermediate group with three other students, all of us from the University of Arkansas. The size of the class really helped me to learn the material more quickly and more extensively. I also was able to have deeper conversations with my teacher and classmates about the reality of life in Mexico. Our class spent so much time with our teacher that we became very close. Our teacher even told us at the end of the trip that we were her favorite class she had ever had. Saying good-bye was very difficult after spending so much time with her for five weeks.  

On every weekend, students from all of the programs would ride together on a bus to different cities around Puebla. The programs included big groups of people from Arkansas and Wisconsin, and there were individuals from New York, Houston, and Oklahoma. My favorite weekend trip was to the city of Cuetzalan, about two hours outside of Puebla. Cuetzalan is a beautiful little town in the rolling hills of Mexico surrounded by miles of nature. The little town was a great break from the bustle of Puebla, and the fresh air was amazing to breathe. My favorite part was the trip to the waterfalls. Going to Cuetzalan was a big eye-opener for me because I never imagined that Mexico could contain so much beauty. Before the trip, whenever I pictured Mexico, I thought of deserts and big cities. Cuetzalan contains so much natural beauty and wildlife, but it also contains so much culture. This little town is very traditional in so many ways – the outfits, the rituals, the food, etc. The most surprising ritual was the “Danza de los Voladores,” where five boys climb up a very tall pole. The one boy in the middle plays a flute and dances on top of the pole, while the other four members tie rope to their feet and then swing around the pole upside down. It is accurate to say that everyone on our trip was very surprised by this form of entertainment.  

This trip was an amazing, life-changing experience. I would definitely recommend it to other students. This trip helped to shatter stereotypes I had of Mexico that I did not even realize I had. People in the United States tend to think of Mexico as very dangerous and not as well-developed as U.S. cities. However, Mexico and especially Puebla, is much safer than people realize. The cities in Mexico are also just as well-functioning as big cities in the United States. When I visited Mexico City, I had to remind myself that I was in Mexico because everything seemed so familiar and at home. The thing I will miss most about Mexico is the food. Tacos al pastor are my new favorite food in the world. The first thing I did when I returned to the United States was, I found a place in Northwest Arkansas that serves tacos al pastor. On this trip I also learned how to dance the Cumbia and Salsa. I took a cooking class and learned how to cook traditional Mexican dishes. Lastly, I made strong connections that will last a lifetime with my classmates, my teacher, other students on the trip, my host mom, and Mexican friends. It was a great experience of which I am thankful I had the opportunity to be a part, and I will miss being in Mexico with all of these people that I love.